How to Program Your Thermostat to Save Money During the Summer

The first way to keep your home cool during the summer but not overspend on the cost of cooling is to set your thermostat as high as possible, while still feeling comfortable.  You may not feel a major difference between 76 degrees and 78 degrees, but even a two degree difference on a regular basis can make a major impact on the cost to cool your home.

Next, when you are away from home, set the thermostat higher so that money is not wasted cooling an unoccupied home.  Also, during the evening when temperatures are cooler outside and you are asleep, consider setting your thermostat even one degree higher.  It is unlikely you will notice the difference while you are asleep, but over time, this could yield significant savings.

If you have a somewhat consistent schedule (you wake and leave for work around the same time each day and go to bed around the same time each day) you can program your thermostat and then make adjustments as needed.  The bulk of the work with programming will be done and you will not even need to think about it!   If you plan to leave for a summer vacation, be sure to adjust your programming so that it is set for a higher temperature the entire time you are away as there will be no need to continually cool your home if you are not there.

It is also important to regularly change your air filters to keep your HVAC unit functioning properly and help you save on energy costs.  Energy Star discusses how important it is to change your air filter, “Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.” When you take advantage of the programmable features of your thermostat and plan ahead according to your schedule, you can enjoy significant energy savings during the warm summer months.